Wire-stretcher.



J. W. S. BARGBR. I WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1912.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

cnLuMmA PLANDGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

JAMES W. S. BABGER, 0F EID-DYVILLE, ILLINOIS.

WIBE-STRETCHIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

Application filed July 8, 1912. Serial No. 798,338.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES W. S. BARGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eddyville, in the county of Pope and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for stretching wire fence material such as the ordinary strand wires of barbed and similar fences, and likewise for stretching woven wire fence material when constructing fences, and likewise for taking up the slack in fences already constructed, and has for one of its objects to simplify and improve the construction and increase the 'efiiciency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to pro duce a simply constructed device which may be readily applied and moved from place to place as required.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described, and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved apparatus, applied; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the post-engaging clamping device of the ratchet bar; Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of the bearing member of the ratchet bar clamp.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved apparatus is provided with means for coupling to one of the posts of the fence to be stretched and comprises a main body or bar 10 having ratchet notches 11 in its side edges. At one. end the bar 10 is provided with a rope or chain-engaging clevis 12 and at the other end extended into a transverse plate 18 adapted to bear against the post or other object against which the apparatus is supported. The plate 13 is rigidly connected to the bar 10 by riveting or other suitable fastening means, extends at one end for a considerable distance be yond the bar and the extended portion and is slotted to receive a clamp plate 14. The member 14 is provided with a lateral offset 15 at one end carrying a plurality of inwardly directed spurs 16 for bearing in a post represented at 17. Bearing upon the plate 14, is a cushion plate 18, preferably of wood with which a U-bolt 19 is engaged and passed thence through the plate 14 and around the bar 10.

Spacing blocks 2021 are located upon opposite faces of the bar 10 and provided with notches through which the side members of the U-bolt 19 passes. By this means the plate 14 with its lateral terminal 15 may be firmly anchored to the post and coupled to the bar, and thus in turn firmly couple the bar to the post. By arranging the member 14 to slide through the slot of the member 13, it will be obvious that the offset 15 and the plate 13 may be adjusted to posts of various sizes.

'At its outer end the bar 10 is provided with a two-sided clip device 2223 with which brace rods 2425 are pivoted at 26 27. At their outer ends the bars 2425 are provided with spurs 2829 for engaging in the post 17 above and below the plate 13 and thus act as braces to support the bar 10 in position relative to the post.

Slidably engaging the bar 10 is a wire pulling device of suitable construction, and located alongside of the bar is a suitable wire clamping device, but as these devices form no part of the present application they are not further described.

If a greater strain is required the strand wires are secured in any suitable manner and the lever 32 released and returned to position near the post 17 and then again coupled to the clamp device and the operation repeated and so on as often as required. By this simple means the stretching operation may be accomplished step by step to any required extent by duplicating the straining operations.

All of the parts of the device except the cushion member 18 are of metal of suiiicient strength to withstand the strains to which they will be subjected when in use.

The improved device is simple in construction, and can be inexpensively manufactured and applied.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a bar, a supporting member rigidly connected to said bar at one end and at right angles thereto and extending at one end beyond the bar with a slot in the extended portion, said supporting member having a flat bearing face adapted to bear against one side of a stationary support When disposed in longitudinal almement with the bar, a

clamp member slidable through said slot and provided with a lateral offset adapted to bear against the stationary support at the side opposite to the plate and the bar, and means for adjustably coupling said clamp member to said bar.

2. A device of the class described comprising a bar, a transverse plate carried by said bar at one end and extending beyond? the same with a slot in the extended portion,

said plate being adapted to bear against a stationary support at one side, a clamp member slidable through said slot and pro vided with a lateral off set adapted to bear against a stationary support at the opposite side, a cushion member bearing against said clamp member and extending therewith through the slot of said plate, and means for adj ustably coupling said clamp member and its cushion member to said bar.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES W. S. BARGER. Viitnesses G. S. BARGER, J 01m S. BARGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

